Rat terrier coat and sweater sizes

A rat terrier is two sizes of the same dog: the miniature, 10 to 13 in at the shoulder, and the standard, 13 to 18 in, both 10 to 25 lb depending (AKC standard). Under the short coat is a dog that looks slight and tapes deep; the chest on a standard rat terrier is a fair bit bigger than its weight suggests, which is the first thing to know before buying it a coat.

Numbers

The breed is missing from most published charts. The closest charted dog is the smooth fox terrier, the same height and shape: the Doggie Style Store lists a 10 to 16 in neck and an 18 in chest, TARIGS a 50 to 55 cm chest (20 to 22 in), 40 to 45 cm neck and 38 to 45 cm back for the fox terrier, and the related Jack Russell pages give 16 to 20 in. For rat terriers that works out to roughly 15 to 18 in around the chest on a miniature and 18 to 21 on a standard, with a 10 to 14 in neck and a 12 to 17 in back. Coat makers' numbers from measured dogs of a neighbouring breed; measure yours.

Our sizes

Worked out from the size charts on the product pages for the measurement range above. Your dog's own tape measurement is what decides it.

A miniature at 16 in: jacket M (the S is 15), Heritage Turtleneck M, Fireside XL, vest S. A standard at 20 in: jacket L, Heritage L, no Fireside (it stops at 16.5), vest S or M by neck.

The coat does nothing in the cold

Rat terriers have a short, dense single coat with no undercoat, and the piebald patterns the breed is known for often come with thin spots. They are a southern US farm dog by origin and behave like one in winter: a rat terrier at 35°F is hunched and shivering and not enjoying it. A knit is the practical piece for the breed, worn on every cold walk and off indoors.

The Heritage Turtleneck stretches over the deep chest, the ribbed cuffs keep it on a dog that runs, and the fold-down neck can go up on the worst days. The Fireside Cable-Knit fits miniatures and small standards (XL stops at 16.5 in), sleeveless, so front legs are free to dig.

Rain

The slick coat sheds a shower and the dog is then wet to the skin with nothing to keep the warmth in. The All-Weather Jacket is lined, which on this breed is the right amount of coat, zips up the chest and clips the leash to the harness built into the chest. For a terrier that walks at heel that is one less thing; for one that hits the end of the leash at a squirrel, the product page's advice stands: regular harness under the jacket. The jacket is cut short at the back to free the hind legs, which on a square-built terrier is close to full cover.

The Quilted Vest from a 16 in chest is the lighter piece for cool drizzle; the belly strap adjusts within each size.

Shipping and returns

Free US shipping; ships in 1 to 2 business days and usually arrives 4 to 9 business days after that; 60 days to return a wrong size (Shipping & Returns). To measure a dog that is mid-air most of the time: end of a walk, treat at nose height, and the measuring guide.

Questions

Miniature rat terrier, 12 lb: which Fireside?

Measure the chest. 15 in is an L, 16.5 an XL, and over that the Heritage.

Will the jacket fit over a sweater?

Yes if the jacket is sized by the dog's chest with the knit on, which usually means one size up from the bare measurement.

Standard rat terrier, 22 lb, jacket L or XL?

Chest. Under 22.8 in, L. The breed rarely needs the XL.